WAMG

Bompastor and Precheur meet again
While Saturday marks the first-ever league meeting between Chelsea and London City, the two managers on the touchline — Sonia Bompastor and Jocelyn Prêcheur — are already well-acquainted rivals.

Bompastor’s Lyon edged Prêcheur’s PSG to the French league title in the 2023/24 campaign and also triumphed 5-3 on aggregate in their Women’s Champions League semi-final clash in April 2024. The Chelsea boss also worked under London City owner Michele Kang during her spell at Lyon between December 2023 and May 2024.

Now, their paths cross again — but in very different circumstances. Chelsea remain the WSL’s dominant force and current league leaders, while newly promoted London City are still adapting to top-flight life. The Blues have not been at their fluent best this season, yet remain unbeaten, while City will view this match as a valuable test — and perhaps a chance to cause an upset.

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Will Man City vs West Ham follow the script?

On paper, Manchester City should have little trouble. They are riding the longest winning streak in the WSL (five games) and could equal their six-match run from September to November last year with victory on Saturday.

By contrast, West Ham are enduring the worst run in their WSL history, losing eight consecutive games with a goal difference of -15 and still searching for their first point. Yet their most recent meeting in March ended in a 1-1 draw, a reminder that football rarely follows the script. The Hammers will hope to defy expectations again.

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Can Brighton make home advantage count against stingy Man Utd?

Brighton haven’t quite hit last season’s heights — they sit six points worse off after six games — but the Broadfield Stadium remains a difficult venue for visiting sides. The Seagulls have lost just two of their last 14 WSL home matches (W7 D5).

Their latest visitors, Manchester United, boast the best defence in the division. Marc Skinner’s team have conceded only four goals in 12 matches across all competitions this season, keeping eight clean sheets and never allowing more than one goal in a game — their best defensive start since joining the WSL.

Brighton, however, will be without Michelle Agyemang, sidelined by an ACL injury. Her absence robs them of a key attacking threat as they look to unlock United’s watertight back line.

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Are Arsenal back on track?

The international break may have disrupted momentum for both Arsenal and Leicester City, who had begun to find their rhythm before the pause. Arsenal followed a rocky spell with back-to-back wins over Brighton and Benfica, keeping clean sheets in both. Leicester, meanwhile, went three games unbeaten in all competitions, also without conceding in their last two.

Arsenal have never lost to Leicester in eight meetings and remain favourites, but their away form is a concern — just one win in their last five WSL trips (D1 L3) and four defeats in nine away games in 2025. Another loss would see them set an unwanted record of five WSL away defeats in a single calendar year. It’s a challenge that new boss Renée Slegers must carefully manage, especially with Rick Passmoor’s improving Foxes eager to make a statement.

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Liverpool bruised but battling on

It has been an emotionally and physically draining period for Liverpool. The club mourned the loss of former manager Matt Beard, a figure deeply tied to their modern history, followed by the tragic passing of long-serving kit manager Jonathan Humble.

On the pitch, their struggles have continued, compounded by two major setbacks in October — Sophie Román Haug and Marie-Therese Hobinger both suffered season-ending ACL injuries. Despite the adversity, the Reds must find resilience and rediscover form as they look to steady themselves in a testing campaign.
Adding to Liverpool’s recent struggles, the Reds are still without a single point in the WSL this season. Despite the emotional and injury setbacks that have rocked the club, that must remain their focus as the league resumes — getting off the mark and beginning to rebuild.

Their task, however, could hardly be tougher. They face an in-form Tottenham side whose only defeats this campaign have come against Manchester City and Chelsea. Yet it takes just one result, one spark, to turn a season around — and Liverpool will be desperate for that breakthrough.

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Will we see goals at Villa Park?

Only two points separate Aston Villa and Everton in the WSL standings, with both sides having managed just one win apiece so far. Each will view this fixture as an opportunity to climb the table — but it could prove a cagey affair.

Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo has been in superb form, boasting the best save percentage in the league (91.7%) while facing an average of only 3.6 shots on target per match — the fewest of any team.

Everton, meanwhile, remain winless in five WSL games but have been quietly efficient in front of goal. Their 13.2% shot conversion rate ranks fourth-best in the division — behind only Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal — and their seven goals mark their strongest attacking return after six league games since 2020/21.

However, the Toffees have also been their own worst

FC Barcelona’s men’s first team will make their official return to the Spotify Camp Nou on Friday, November 7, for an open training session. Fans, eager to be back home and watch their team in action again, will be welcomed to witness the session live.
The session will also function as a technical and operational test to ensure that all systems, access points, and other key areas of the facility are working properly, forming part of the stadium’s gradual reopening process.

Training is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, with the Spotify Camp Nou gates opening at 9:30 AM. Attendance will be limited to 23,000 spectators, seated in the grandstand and south goal sections — areas included in Phase 1A, for which the Club has already received its occupancy permit.

Crystal Palace have emerged as serious contenders to sign a four-time Premier League winner whom Manchester City are expected to give strong consideration to selling next summer.
Crystal Palace are set to face a major void in their starting lineup next summer, with captain Marc Guehi confirmed to be leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

Manager Oliver Glasner has already acknowledged Guehi’s impending departure, with the defender attracting interest from top clubs including Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.

To avoid a significant drop in quality, Palace are determined to secure a high-calibre replacement — and Nathan Ake has emerged as a leading candidate.

The Eagles had already identified the 30-year-old Dutch international as a potential successor last summer, anticipating Guehi’s eventual exit, and sources suggest Ake remains firmly on their radar.

With Guehi now set to depart at the second time of asking, Palace are intent on ensuring they’re fully prepared for the transition.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are understood to be assessing new centre-back options of their own, which could pave the way for Ake’s departure.

The experienced defender has made just one Premier League start this season and will enter the final year of his contract next summer. As a result, City are expected to consider cashing in while they still can — making a sale a real possibility.